WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF TEXILA?
References to Taxila can be found in Greek and Roman literature as well as in the tales of two Chinese Buddhist pilgrims named Faxian and Xuanzang. The Indian epic Ramayana claims that Bharata, Rama's younger brother and an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, founded Takshashila, also known as Taxila and literally meaning "Taksha's Rock or "The City of Carved Stone." In honor of the first king, Taksha, the city bears his name.
Tradition holds that the famous Indian epic Mahabharata was originally performed at Taxila during King Janamejaya, one of the story's heroes, great snake sacrifice. It is referred to as the capital of the kingdom of Gandhara and as a prominent center of learning in Buddhist literature, particularly the Jatakas. Inscriptions of the 5th-century BCE Achaemenian (Persian) king Darius I refer to Gandhara as a satrapy, or province.
Being the capital of Gandhara, Taxila was undoubtedly governed by the Achaemenians for more than a century. Ambhi (Omphis), the monarch of Taxila, gave up the city and made his riches available to Alexander the Great when he invaded India in 326 BCE. Taxila was characterized as "rich, successful, and well-regulated" by Greek historians who accompanied the Macedonian conqueror.
After a decade of Alexander's passing, Taxila was included in Chandragupta's Mauryan empire, where it served as a regional capital. This, however, was only a brief period in the history of Taxila's submission to western conquistadors. The Indo-Greek kingdom of Bactria annexed the city after three generations of Mauryan administration.
The Indo-Greeks controlled it until the beginning of the first century BCE. They were succeeded by the Parthians, whose dominion lasted until the second half of the first century CE, as well as by the Shakas, or Scythians, from Central Asia.
TAXILA ARCHAEOLOGY
The Bhir mound region, Sirkap's palace area, the Jandial and Pippala temples, the Giri stronghold, the Mohra Moradu, and Jaulian monasteries, and the Dharmarajika, Bhallar, and Kunala stupas are just a few of Taxila's structural remnants (burial mounds). The various masonry kinds utilized in the monuments reveal their time of origin.
The Bhir mound's remains are the earliest ones left behind. The palace area has many entrances and exterior walls, Great wall of China, and it is constructed along the same lines as Nineveh, its Assyrian counterpart. It displays signs of earlier settlements, with the oldest portions of the structures being made of masonry rubble. Uncovered structures included a sizable Buddhist temple, several little shrines, and residential apartment buildings.
An Important Buddhist Civilizational Hub Once Existed in Taxila
One of the riches of the subcontinent is Taxila or Takshashila, also known as the "The City of Cut Stone" or "Taka Rock," which previously played a significant role in the Gandhara monarchy. Along the renowned Grand Trunk Road, some 30 km north of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, lies the Taxila Ruins. In the fifth century BC and the sixth century AD, Taxila was a significant Buddhist center. At the crucial intersection between South Asia and Central Asia, ancient Taxila was located.
The ruins of Taxila were once again found in the middle of the 19th century by renowned archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham. In 1980, Taxila received the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. It was named the 1 tourist destination in Pakistan in 2006 by the newspaper The Guardian.
One of the riches of the subcontinent is Taxila or Takshashila, also known as the "The City of Cut Stone" or "Taka Rock," which previously played a significant role in the Gandhara monarchy. Along the renowned Grand Trunk Road, some 30 km north of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, lies the Taxila Ruins. In the fifth century BC and the sixth century AD, Taxila was a significant Buddhist center. At the crucial intersection between South Asia and Central Asia, ancient Taxila was located.
The ruins of Taxila were once again found in the middle of the 19th century by renowned archaeologist Sir Alexander Cunningham. In 1980, Taxila was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was named the #1 tourist destination in Pakistan in 2006 by the newspaper The Guardian.
The Taxila Museum is renowned for its spectacular collection of Gandhara Art, which combines Buddhist and Greek art. It also houses a unique collection of utensils, jewelry, toys, and pottery that depicts daily life in ancient Taxila.
What is Taxila known for?
Nonetheless, Taxila is most known for the remains of multiple villages, the earliest of which date to about 1000 BCE. It is also well-known for its collection of Buddhist temples, which includes the Dharmarajika stupa, the Jaulian monastery, and the Mohra Muradu monastery.
Which language is used TAXILA?
Taxila's historical record dates back to the sixth century BC when it joined the Achaemenid Empire of Persia. The city has a predominant Punjabi culture, with residents who speak a different regional dialect of Punjabi while also comprehending and speaking English and Urdu.
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